Town Commissioner Art Elder has thrown his hat in the ring for the mayor's post, as has Stanley Mazaleski, who ran for a commissioner's seat in the last town election. Mayor James Hoover will also run for the seat.

The three-year position pays $8,000 per year.

If Elder were to win in the race for mayor, the board would be tasked with appointing a replacement commissioner, according to the town charter. The charter requires that "the commissioners, or a majority of them, for the time being, shall elect ... a commissioner to fill the vacancy for the period of time until the next election ... to be held by the town."

Each candidate said he has his own reasons for pursuing the part-time leader's job.

Arthur Elder

Elder, who will turn 62 just days after the election, is a 60-year resident of Emmitsburg. He is retired, but owns Emmitsburg Car Wash. He is the former owner of Chronicle Press Inc., a family business. It is now co-owned by his cousin, Lisa Elder, and Chris Price.

Elder belongs to the Knights of Columbus and Citizens Organized to Preserve Emmitsburg (COPE). He is the town board's liaison to the Water and Sewer Committee and treasurer of the Board of Commissioners.

Elder said he is running for mayor because a lot of people have asked him to run, and because he would like to see the town be "a more friendly place. More friendly and responsive to the needs of the residents."

His campaign materials emphasize that the town's budget should be "run like you run your household budget" and that "taxpayers' money should be spent wisely."

He also supports new businesses and keeping the parking spaces on the town square.

He is married to Monica Elder.

James Hoover

Emmitsburg's mayor since 2002, Hoover, 40, has lived in Emmitsburg about 10 years, and has served in public office about seven of those years.

Soon after he arrived, he volunteered for the town's Streets and Transportation Committee. In 1998, he ran for a town commissioner seat, but did not win. Shortly after the race, then-Mayor William Carr appointed Hoover to fill a vacant seat on the Board of Commissioners. On his second run for office, in 1999, Hoover won the seat outright.

Hoover serves as the liaison to the Planning and Zoning Commission.

Hoover was appointed by Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R) as MARC Train's deputy director of train and commuter bus service operations in January.

In a recent interview, Hoover said updating the water and sewer lines, as well as some road projects, are a priority for him, and are reasons he wants to run for mayor again.

"Right now I think there are so many projects not completed and are in the works that I want to make sure they are completed. I just enjoy the public service of it, truly," he said.

He and his wife, Diana Goins, have three children who attend local public schools.

Stanley C. Mazaleski

Mazaleski, 71, has lived in Emmitsburg for two years and in Maryland for 32 years.

Mazaleski is a medical research scientist and has worked for federal agencies, such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Veterans Administration and the Department of Health Education and Welfare.

He is a veteran of the U.S. Navy.

He is vice chair of the Emmitsburg Coalition to Prevent Substance Abuse, but does not have experience as either an elected or appointed government official. He sought office as a town commissioner in Emmitsburg last year.

When asked why he would seek the town's highest office, Mazaleski said it's "because they need me. They need a man with a medical research background. There's too much sickness in this town, particularly this winter."

Mazaleski said he has tested the town's water and believes the copper and lead levels are elevated and contributing to deteriorated immune systems of residents.

He and wife Charlotte have four children and eight grandchildren.